Society for Healthcare
Volunteer Leaders
Good morning,
I'm considering launching a summer teen volunteer program, and wanted to pick your brains. If anyone is willing to share the following, I would appreciate it.
1) programming materials, topics, etc.
2) how you got buy-in for departments to participate
3) any other thoughts, wins, etc.
Thanks, for all you do!
Hi Jill,
We've had a summer teen program here at AnMed since way before I came here 27 years ago. There have been a few different iterations, but we currently offer two 2-week sessions. The teens are selected for one of the two sessions and they volunteer from 8:30am-4:00pm Mon - Fri. I typically have an average of 15 areas who are willing to host a teen, so I only have 30 students total - one per assignment per session. It works well for us because the volunteers and the teammates in the departments get to know each other and build relationships, but the departments aren't overwhelmed. If a previous teen did well and wants to come back, they get priority before new applicants are accepted. They also get to choose their assignment, as long as the department is open to having teens. If you want to talk, let me know.
At Hartford Hospital our VolunTeen program is an 8 week program and students must complete 8 hours a week for at least 6 weeks and attend at least 2 education sessions. Our departments like it because it gives consistenet support over the summer when they may be a little short staffed and could use assistance with support tasks. It is very competitive (must have 3.0 GPA, write essays, references, interview, etc.) but we get amazing kids in the program and usually have at least 50% return each year. Feel free to contact me if you would like more details Eileen.Pelletier@hhchealth.org
What departments are you putting the teens in and what are they doing? Any critical assess hospitals have teen programs?
I take teens all year round, but have only used them as greeters at the entrances and in the Gift Garden.
I just recently changed my summer program to an 8-week program and it is geared for students who want to have a career in the medical profession. Our hospital is very active in our community with our local high schools and two colleges with recruiting so this seemed to be a good fit. I ask the student volunteers to work 3 hours one day a week for 8 weeks and they work on medical floors of their interest. I have about 13 departments participating and 29 students this summer.
I met with our nurse managers to get their buy in and they were all on board. My two biggest challenges are working with the managers to find staff who enjoy working with students who will answer their questions and engage with them and getting the students who are quiet to open up and engage with staff and patients.
I'm having an after-event meeting with the managers to gain feedback as well to see what we can improve upon next year.
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